Atlanta Braves Hold Back Chris Sale for Game 3 Against Dodgers

The Atlanta Braves have made a strategic decision that has paid off well so far in their National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. By holding back ace Chris Sale for Game 3, the Braves are now poised to take a 2-1 series lead over the two-time defending World Series champions.

Tonight's game at Truist Park is looking like it could be a closely contested one, with the teams neck and neck in terms of betting handle and wagers. The Dodgers have taken 66% of wagers, but the Braves are still favored on the money line in this game, which is set to start at 6 p.m. ET on FS1.

The weather forecast for tonight's game looks excellent, with sunny skies and a high temperature of 76 degrees expected. Winds will be blowing in at around 8 mph, providing ideal conditions for baseball.

As the series shifts back to Atlanta, the Dodgers remain favorites on the series line, but the Braves are gaining ground, now sitting at +125. The stage is set for a thrilling Game 3 that could go either way, with many predicting it will be a five-game series.

The Braves' decision to hold back ace Chris Sale for Game 3 has paid dividends as they secured a crucial 3-2 win over the Dodgers on Sunday.

Atlanta's manager Walt Weiss opted to prioritize his pitcher's rest and went with a bullpen game instead of using Sale, who had thrown just 1.1 innings in relief against Philadelphia in the Wild-Card Round. This decision allowed Sale to be fully rested for Game 4, which is expected to be a critical matchup.

Weiss emphasized the importance of having a healthy Chris Sale, stating that they want to ensure he's at full strength before putting him on the mound again. He acknowledged that pitching Sale on Sunday would not have yielded the best results and expressed confidence in the team's ability to pitch him effectively when the time is right.

The bullpen game proved to be a successful strategy for Atlanta as six different pitchers combined to hold the Dodgers to just 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position. Opener Ray Kerr had an impressive outing, recording almost as many outs as Los Angeles' ace Blake Snell, who is a two-time Cy Young Award winner.

The Braves will need to rely on their bullpen again for Game 4, but they'll have the luxury of having Sale ready to go for a potential decisive Game 5. The stage remains set for a thrilling conclusion to this series, with many predicting it will be a five-game showdown.

The Dodgers' postseason winning streak came to an end on Sunday, as they failed to outdo their opponents in home runs for the first time this year. This setback was a welcome change of pace for the team, which had been riding high on its 11-game postseason winning streak.

Atlanta's decision to hold back ace Chris Sale for Tuesday's game paid off well, as his potential absence helped the Braves secure a crucial victory. Sale has a history of performing better with more rest between starts, having made 25 of his 27 regular-season starts with at least five days off in between.

Sale's career playoff numbers were not exactly impressive before this postseason, but he has shown promise against the Dodgers this year. In two starts against them, he boasts an impressive record of 1-1 with a minuscule ERA and opponents' batting average.

Sale's previous outing against the Dodgers was particularly notable, as he threw a complete-game five-hitter on August 27 at Truist Park, striking out 11 batters without issuing a single walk. This performance earned him a game score of 88.0, which was a season high for him.

The SportsLine Projection Model predicts a strong outing for Chris Sale, forecasting him to pitch 5.9 innings, strike out 6.9 batters, and allow 5.4 hits while surrendering 2.3 earned runs.

Atlanta's decision to hold back ace Chris Sale for Tuesday's game has paid off so far, as he is poised to make a significant impact in tonight's matchup. Sale's performance against the Dodgers will be closely watched, particularly by those who have had success against him in the past. Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman are among those who have fared well against Sale.

Freddie Freeman broke out of his slump with a solo homer in the fourth inning of Game 2, giving the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. This was a crucial moment for Los Angeles, as Freeman had not recorded an extra-base hit since September 2 and was batting just .167 over the final 18 regular-season games.

The Braves' Shun Yamamoto is set to make his 2026 playoff debut on the mound, coming into this matchup with impressive postseason credentials. In two previous postseasons, Yamamoto has gone 7-1 with a 2.25 ERA in 10 career outings, holding hitters to a .176 average.

Yamamoto's past success in high-pressure situations is notable, particularly his performance in Game 6 of the 2025 World Series, where he beat Toronto and went on to save Game 7. This impressive display earned Yamamoto World Series MVP honors, cementing his reputation as a reliable closer.

The Dodgers' Shun Yamamoto has been an outstanding pitcher this season, making 28 starts and setting career highs in wins, innings pitched, and quality starts.

He led the National League in several key categories, including quality starts (tied for first), WHIP (0.97, second-best), opponents' average (.182, second-lowest), and opponents' OPS (.546, second-lowest). Yamamoto's impressive road performance was evident, as he posted a 1.77 ERA on the road, ranking second in the NL and third overall.

In his only start against the Braves this year in Atlanta, Yamamoto allowed one run and four hits over 6.1 innings against Chris Sale. The model predicts that Yamamoto will throw for 6.5 innings, strike out 6.2 batters, allow 4.3 hits, and give up 2.3 earned runs.

Atlanta's Michael Harris has had success against Yamamoto in the past, going 2-for-6 with a walk. However, Ronald Acuna Jr., who is on a 22-game playoff homerless skid, has never faced Yamamoto officially.

The model gives the Braves a slight edge over the Dodgers, but it's difficult to see how either team will reach six runs given their combined pitching performances and the low total of just six.